This is the controversial world leader Donald Trump has invited to attend his inauguration
Donald Trump will be sworn in as president next month, and inauguration officials are firming up the list of foreign officials who will attend the ceremony.
Donald Trump will be sworn in as the 47th president of the United States on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, and inauguration officials are sending out invitations to the ceremony. Organizers typically request the presence of ambassadors and other diplomats at the event.
Multiple media outlets have reported that Trump invited Chinese President Xi Jinping soon after he won the election last month, but it is unclear whether the leader will attend the occasion.
No Chinese head of state has been reported to have been at a United States presidential transition ceremony, and U.S. State Department records indicate no foreign head of state has ever attended such an event.
If Xi does come to the inauguration, it would run counter to historical precedent and diplomatic protocol. Also, it usually takes months for a Chinese head of state to prepare for a visit to the United States.
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US President-elect Donald Trump has invited Chinese President Xi Jinping to attend his inauguration next month, CBS News reported https://t.co/FRN2LVjcI5 pic.twitter.com/HNaHWBhLAM
— Reuters (@Reuters) December 12, 2024
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The Trump government’s points of tension with China
Trump’s invitation to Xi is cause for interest given that the president-elect has repeatedly threatened to increase tariffs on Chinese products.
There is also the issue of TikTok, whose Chinese parent company ByteDance has been ordered to sell the social media app or be banned from operating in the United States. ByteDance is appealing the case to the Supreme Court after its failed efforts to stop the ban.
Members of Trump’s incoming cabinet have voiced criticism of the Chinese government, including future Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who has spoken out against China-backed hackers; and incoming national security adviser Mike Waltz, who has criticized the country’s aggression toward Taiwan.
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